State government announces Sharad Samman awards

Kolkata: More than 100 Durga Puja organisers from different parts of the country and 60 from abroad have applied so far the Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman Award.

The state government on Tuesday announced the Sharad Samman awards in different categories for the best Pujas in Kolkata and 22 other districts.

The awards will be given to the Puja organisers on October 12 in Uttirnya. The Puja organisers from other states and abroad, who had won the awards in 2016, will be awarded in this year's programme in Uttirnya. This year's winners from abroad and other parts of the country will be getting the award next year.

Since the Pujas abroad are usually held in weekends, they can still apply for the Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman Award.

Indranil Sen, Minister of State for the Information and Cultural Affairs department, said: "This is the brainchild of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. It had started in 2013 and it has become immensely successful in the past five years."

"Immersion carnival on Red Road started last year. This year it will take place on October 3 in which the award winning Puja organisers will be participating," he said adding that this is the first time when "sera sabeki pujo" has been included in the award category.

The categories in which different Puja organisers have been awarded are Serar Sera, Sera Theme Song, Sera Abiskar, Sera Aloksojja, Sera Bhabna, Sera Shilpi, Sera Branding, Sera Dhakeswari, Sera Mandap, Sera Poribeshbandhob and Sera Pratima.

Sen announced the names of the winners of Serar Sera award. Vivek Kumar, Principal Secretary of the Information and Cultural Affairs department, also announced names of the Puja committees that bagged the other awards.

25 puja organisers including Suruchi Sangha, Chetla Agrani, Naktala Udayan Sangha, Mudiali, Hindustan Park Sarbajonin Durgotsav Committee and Shree Bhumi Sporting Club bagged the Serar Sera award. Manicktala Chaltabagan, Sanghashree, Bakultala and four other Puja organisers have got the Sera Pratima award.

This year, Sera Sabeki Puja award is being given. Ekdalia Evergreen, Baghbazar Sarbojanin, Adi Ballygunge and 76 Palli have got the Sera Sabeki Puja award.

Beliaghata 33 Palli and Ajeo Sanghati are the two clubs to get Sera Bhabna award.

Suruchi Sangha has bagged one more award that is for the best theme song. It may be mentioned that the theme song of Suruchi Sangha was penned by the Chief Minister.